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Florida Senate
-
2026
SB 702
By
Senator Bracy Davis
15-00700-26 2026702__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to mental health programs for gun
3 violence prevention; creating s. 394.4997, F.S.;
4 providing legislative findings and intent; requiring
5 IMPACT GNV of the City of Gainesville, in
6 collaboration with certain entities, to develop and
7 implement the Gun Violence Prevention Pilot Program;
8 providing eligibility and program requirements;
9 providing alternatives to incarceration for specified
10 youth; providing for referrals to specified programs;
11 requiring the City of Gainesville, in collaboration
12 with Alachua County, to annually submit a specified
13 report to IMPACT GNV by a specified date; requiring
14 IMPACT GNV to report specified information to the
15 Governor and the Legislature by a specified date;
16 providing for expiration of the pilot program;
17 providing an appropriation; providing an effective
18 date.
19
20 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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22 Section 1. Section 394.4997, Florida Statutes, is created
23 to read:
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394.4997
Gun Violence Prevention Pilot Program.—
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(1)
LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT.—The Legislature finds
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that persons under 21 years of age in this state are
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disproportionately affected by gun violence, which has
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significant adverse effects on the health, safety, and well
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being of persons under 21 years of age. Further, the Legislature
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finds that mental health challenges and unresolved conflicts are
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contributing factors to the prevalence of gun violence and that
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there is a need for targeted mental health and conflict
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resolution education programs to assist persons under 21 years
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of age in mitigating these issues. It is the intent of the
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Legislature to establish programs that provide mental health
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services tailored to the needs of persons under 21 years of age,
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implement conflict resolution training in schools and community
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centers to prevent violence, and fund community-based
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initiatives that address the root causes of gun violence among
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persons under 21 years of age.
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(2)
CREATION.—
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(a)
IMPACT GNV of the City of Gainesville shall develop and
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implement a Gun Violence Prevention Pilot Program in the City of
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Gainesville, in collaboration with the Department of Juvenile
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Justice, the state attorney, and the public defender of the
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Eighth Judicial Circuit.
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(b)
The pilot program shall provide mental health services,
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community-based intervention programs, conflict resolution
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training, and alternative opportunities.
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(c)
IMPACT GNV shall design the pilot program to align with
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and complement existing efforts in the City of Gainesville to
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address gun violence among youth and young adults. IMPACT GNV
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shall, at a minimum, consult with stakeholders before and during
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implementation of the pilot program.
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(3)
ELIGIBILITY.—In order to become an eligible program
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participant, he or she must be:
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(a)
A person who is at least 10 to 21 years of age, who is
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at moderate or high risk of being:
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1.
A victim of gun violence;
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2.
An offender who has inflicted bodily harm or death; or
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3.
An individual returning to the community from a
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delinquency residential program; or
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(b)
A family member of a person eligible under paragraph
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(a).
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(4)
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.—The program shall:
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(a)
Provide program participants with access to mental
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health services, including, but not limited to, all of the
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following:
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1.
Individual therapy sessions with qualified professionals
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or mental health counselors to address personal mental health
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issues.
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2.
Facilitated group therapy sessions to provide peer
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support and shared experiences.
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3.
Family therapy sessions involving family members to
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address familial issues contributing to mental health problems.
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4.
Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy for
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participants who have experienced trauma.
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5.
Art and music therapies to help participants express
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emotions and cope with stress.
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6.
Substance abuse treatment programs addressing substance
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abuse issues that may contribute to violent behavior.
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7.
Mediation training.
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8.
Restoration of relationships.
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9.
Resilience and leadership skills.
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(b)
In collaboration with the Department of Juvenile
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Justice, the state attorney, and the public defender for the
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Eighth Judicial Circuit, provide program participants who are
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involved with the delinquency system or on probation with
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opportunities to obtain:
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1.
A graduate equivalency degree.
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2.
Job training, skills development, or an apprenticeship.
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3.
Employment at high-risk or critical need positions.
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(5)
REFERRAL.—
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(a)
The public defender’s office will receive referrals to
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the dependency program.
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(b)
The state attorney’s office will receive referrals to
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the diversion program under part III of chapter 985.
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(c)
The Department of Juvenile Justice will receive
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referrals to the class for firearm offenders under s.
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985.601(11).
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(6)
REPORTS.-
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(a)
Beginning October 31, 2027, and annually thereafter,
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the City of Gainesville, in collaboration with Alachua County,
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shall report to IMPACT GNV and the Department of Juvenile
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Justice the number of participants in the pilot program; data on
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the impact on the rate of gun violence among individuals within
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the age group and geographic area served by the program; data on
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risk factors for gun violence in the geographic area served by
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the program; feedback from program participants; and
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recommendations for improvement and expansion of services based
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on the results of the pilot program.
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(b)
IMPACT GNV shall report to the Governor, the President
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of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives
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by December 31 of each year on the implementation and
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performance of the program.
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(7)
REPEAL.—This section expires June 30, 2030.
117 Section 2.
For the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the sum of
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$500,000 is appropriated in nonrecurring funds from the General
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Revenue Fund to the Department of Children and Families for the
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purpose of implementing this act.
121 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.